[tim_battersby]

I agree with other comments. It depends on where it is, what time it is, likely demand and what I'm doing.

As an example, I often use Yarm railway station car park near Teesside. Car park is free, has about 40 spaces in it and two 7kW chargers, only one of which has a dedicated EV parking bay.
Car park is often close to full, sometimes it is full (eg Monday mornings). Other times it's practically empty. The dedicated EV space is never ICE'd.
So I arrive with my ZOE and plug-in in 'my' dedicated space (I've never seen another EV in the car park, nor nearby). I catch the same commuter trains as most others using the car park and return at the same time later that day. Does it matter that my car is fully charged by say 1pm? No one else needs the charger and there's another charger anyway.

... But what if I don't really need a charge (say I'm at 60% when I arrive, which is easily enough to get home). Do I charge anyway and leave a premium non EV space for ICE cars? Or do I leave the EV spaces clear and occupy one of the other bays - knowing that to do so will probably (at least at times) mean someone else is denied a space.
... And what if i'm away overnight? Then where should I park?...

You can probably tell that I really have wrestled with these issues. My solution? I deliberately aim to arrive with a low SOC so that I feel justified in plugging in, and only do so if I'm only away for the day. If I'm away overnight I 'EV' an ICE space.
What would you do?

 

[tim_battersby]

I don't live so far away from either that I need to charge there, so why would I?

One reason that I plug into charge points when it shopping, or at the station is to signal my support to Stockton borough council (or newcastle, or gateshead etc) for having the vision to install charge points that collectively serve to support wider adoption of EV. Neighbouring councils haven't done this and so I now shop in Stockton, Newcastle and Gateshead etc..
A small gesture perhaps, but anything that can be done to reduce the emissions in city centres has to be a good thing, right?

 

[tim_battersby]

Would you do that if it cost money?

Yes. If it wasn't silly money. In fact I already do in some places. Either paying to park, or paying for the electricity. CYC have started to bill us for York charging at 15p/kWhr. That's my day rate at home, so why not?

 

[tim_battersby]

... The alternative is that we won't bother plugging in, and will just do more petrol miles. I'm really not fussed about that - it just doesn't feel like progress.

That is if we have anything that can take petrol. All i have left is a lawnmower and strimmer

 

[tim_battersby]

You can pay a third of that if you charge at home overnight - a pretty good reason to me.

I can't my overnight rate is 8p, but I take your point though.

 

[tim_battersby]

Destination charging works for a good number of my trips too. I live 55 miles from Newcastle and York. I drive straight there, plug in and leave the car whilst I shop or whatever.

I could instead rapid charge on the way there or back, but why add 30 mins to my otherwise hour long journey?